| Author | Message | ||
     Rek |
Hey All, i just returned from a 700 mile trip this weekend and during the ride I began noticing an odd occurance. Every time I fueled up the idle speed had changed. One time its 2K rpm, put in new fuel, adjust it back and the next stop its 950 (or whatever rpm, but different). Is there really that much difference in fuel quality? Can I use some kind of additive to provide a more consitant grade? (Not Stabil!) Just curious. | ||
| Henrik |
Check for intake leaks. Henrik | ||
| Rek |
Hmmm, thx for the suggestion. Would something like that show up as a code? | ||
| Henrik |
Would something like that show up as a code? I honestly don't know, but wouldn't think so. Take the bike for a spin to warm it up properly. Leave it idling, and spray a mist of "something" in around the intake seals at the cylinders, and were the fuel injector body attaches to the manifold. If the idle changes (increase or decrease in RPM), you have an intake leak. If so, replace the seals. Don't dally, intake leaks are bad juju. "something" can be WD40, contact cleaner, propane, water. I would personally avoid carb and brake cleaner, as it's been known to remove paint (it sucked gaining that experience  ) Henrik (Message edited by Henrik on September 27, 2004) | ||
| Pete_o |
Rek, I second Henrik's suggestion... Similar thing happened to me a couple of months ago, it was also erratic at idle. 2000 S3, only 2000 miles. I didn't think the seals could be bad already, but replaced them anyway. That fixed it. The seals from the manifold to the cylinders were easy to find, the one from the throttle body to the manifold was tough to find. I can get the part numbers if needed. Pete | ||
| Rek |
Thanks guys, I'm "busy" w/ painting the shop most of this week. That darn wife won't give me a minute's rest now that a hint of Fall is in the air...more honey-do's than a man can be reasonabley expected to accomplish before the snow flies. However I should be able to check out the intake potential in the odd moment when she's not watching my every move  . It sounds ominous to a neophyte mechanic (esp. the "bad juju" part). | ||
| Henrik |
Rek; not to worry about the mechanic aspect. It takes a bit of time to replace the seals, but should only require basic tools and the service manual for reference. Riding with intake leaks is a different story. It'll make the motor run lean = hot = possibly pinging = risk of melted parts = BIG $$  Henrik | ||
| Pammy |
The 'something' that you spray on the intake seals to check for a leak needs to be safe for O2 sensors if your S3 is sporting one.  | ||
| Rek |
Okay I'll bite, what is a safe 'something' for the oxy sensors? Having replaced the darn thing once already from a bad fuel additive I really don't want to do it again from using a bad testing agent. Thanx, Rob | ||
| Steveford |
We use Zep brake cleaner which won't attack paint. You could try contact cleaner but put a drop on a part of the bike that's not normally visible to see if it attacks the coating. |
